Police Blotter

Published: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 11:24 a.m. CST

Newton Police Department

• Brenda S. Goodnight, 48, of Knoxville was cited with failure to yield upon entering through highway after attempting to merge from a parking spot in the 200 block of West Second Street South at 4:45 p.m. Monday and striking a vehicle in the roadway driven by Dixie D. Cowden, 81, of Newton, who was traveling south and had the right-of-way. Each vehicle sustained an estimated $800 damage. A passenger in one of the vehicles, 39-year-old Beth A. Williams of Laurel, was cited for failure to maintain safety belt.

• Demarco K. Minenga, 53, of Newton was charged with fifth-degree theft after authorities responded to a shoplifting complaint at 12:29 p.m. Monday at Walmart. A loss prevention agent informed police that she observed Minenga taking hearing aid batteries, which had a total value of $55.04, and putting them in her purse and in her hearing devices. Minenga was charged and released to appear in court.

• Dennis B. Wennihan, 57, of Newton was charged with fifth-degree criminal mischief after authorities responded to a report of a male behaving strangely and possibly on drugs at 12:35 a.m. Monday at 1607 First Ave. E. Police arrived and were advised the male had walked eastbound. The suspect was located and identified as Wennihan. Police were informed that Tropical Sno had been defaced with blue chalk. The word “truth” had been written on the building, along with the phrase “Wone thang one more love love.” Wennihan told police he “wrote the truth.” The owner of Tropical Sno said it would cost approximately $100 to clean the chalk off the building. Wennihan was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. It is the policy of the Newton Daily News to release the names of individuals charged with a crime who are 16 and older.